WindsGlobal Winds
WindsGlobal Winds
Chapter 16 Section 3
Pages 536-544
Chapter 16 Section 3
Pages 536-544
Global Winds
• Winds that blow steadily from specific directions over long distances.
• Caused by unequal heating of the surface.
Global Winds
Global Winds
Coriolis Effect
• The way Earth’s rotation makes winds curve.– Winds want to move in a straight line but
the earth rotates under them, making it seem as though the wind curved.
Coriolis Effect
• Northern Hemisphere- Earth rotates counter clock wise– All winds curve
to the right.
Coriolis Effect
• Southern Hemisphere- Earth rotates clock wise– All winds curve
to the left.
Doldrums• At the equator.
• Area of Low Pressure– Rising Air
• Calm Winds
Horse Latitudes• 30°N and 30°S
• Area of high pressure– Sinking air
• Calm Winds– Sailors would get
trapped and run out of food and water, they threw their horses overboard.
Trade Winds• Between the
– Equator and 30°N.– Equator and 30°S
• Steady easterly winds.
• Sailors relied on them to carry goods from Europe to West Indies and S. America.
Prevailing Westerlies• Mid-latitude winds
– 30°N-60°N– 30°S-60°S
• Blow from west to east.
• Important to our weather.
• Blow away from the horse latitudes.
Polar Easterlies• Between
– 60°N and 90°N– 60°S and 90°S
• Cold air from the poles sinks and flows south away from the pole.
• Blows east to west.
• Cold Winds
Jet Stream• 10km above the
Earth’s surface.
• Bands of high speed winds.– 200-400km/hr
• Blow from west to east.
• They wander north and south.
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